Ch. 78 Being 'tsundere' is out of style, you know?

Do you think you’re some mature lady who can stir up masochistic desires in people?

With that shiny bald head, even someone like Mia wouldn’t feel any desire.

Most likely, players’ feelings toward this guy were a state of love-hate.

“Move it, move it.”

Mia urged.

“I’m clearly trying to help you, what kind of attitude is this…”

Patches grumbled, shouldering the load and leading the group into the wilderness.

“When the time comes and you actually get us there, I’ll apologize to you. Don’t you always say it’s fine as long as there’s an apology?”

“That’s true.”

The guards in front of the great bridge did not notice them.

The four successfully left the main road and vanished into the ravine-filled wilderness.

There was a small river valley formed by an ancient river that happened to lead to the banks of the Mongliu River.

Following the narrow small riverbed downwards, they could already hear the sound of the Mongliu River flowing.

Mia had Torrent return to the ring and cautiously stepped on the loose rocks to head lower. When the view suddenly opened up, she looked to the left and could see that magnificent stone bridge spanning the two banks from below.

In the middle of the several-hundred-meter-long stone bridge were two piers like skyscrapers, deeply rooted in the flowing water, parting the white waves.

The river water here was much calmer than the water under that suspension bridge.

And to the right, they stepped onto a treacherous narrow path along the cliffside.

“Forward from here.”

Mia still wasn’t sure where Patches was taking them.

The high cliffs and the narrow path without any protection made her legs feel a bit weak.

Fortunately, she was much calmer than when she had crossed the suspension bridge before; as long as Mia tried hard not to show her emotions and gripped her stargazing staff tightly, she could still keep up with Patches’ pace.

People are always making progress, after all.

After walking along the path for several hours, the river below drew closer and closer to them.

Turning back to look, the great bridge had long since disappeared from sight.

At the narrowest section, the ledge beneath their feet wasn’t even as wide as a horse’s rump; Patches had to turn sideways to barely maintain his balance,

while Wilden had to press himself tightly against the cliff face to move along.

However, this had nothing to do with Mia.

Thumping her staff down,

the young girl transformed into a scattering of blue fluorescence.

Then, she appeared on a slightly wider platform in the distance.

Glintstone Magic, kid!

Melina could also appear directly beside Mia with a single blink.

“That’s such cheating!”

Patches wailed as he took a leap, leaving the dangerously narrow path behind.

The group rested on this platform for a moment, sharing supplies to regain their strength before continuing their arduous trek along the cliff.

Patches continued to lead the way, advancing for about another hour.

The closer they got to the river, the colder it became.

“We’re almost there!”

Patches suddenly shouted.

Beside the road ahead, a small triangular pile of stones appeared, with a pale, ghastly skull placed on top.

It wasn’t until this moment that Mia realized where Patches was taking them.

Although there were no such stone piles in the game, it was obvious that Patches recognized this marker.

Therefore, it wasn’t hard to make the connection.

Patches was taking them to Mengliu Cave.

Patches’ old lair; this was where the Tarnished in the game first met Patches.

“You’re taking us to your territory?”

Mia asked.

She wasn’t worried about her safety.

After all, Patches’ subordinates were just a bunch of disorganized rabble.

She was just puzzled that there would actually be another way to cross the river in that place.

“That’s right,”

Patches answered frankly.

With a clear conscience, he really wasn’t planning to trick anyone.

Besides, with Mia, Wilden, and Melina, there were three of them; even if he wanted to trick them, he could only kick one at a time.

“But… that’s strange.” Patches looked around. “I remember I arranged sentries here.”

“Maybe it’s because you’ve been gone for too long, and your lackeys have all switched sides.”

“Isn’t that because of you!”

“Who told you to go out and rob people?”

Back and forth, Mia and Patches bickered without yielding to each other.

A suspension bridge appeared ahead; it was an old bridge that made one worry it might collapse at any moment at first glance.

The suspension bridge hung over the narrowest part of the river, and also the closest to the water, nearly touching the surface.

As the river flowed past, the mist formed by the rushing water against the rocks was trapped within the canyon, lingering for a long time.

Through the thin mist, one could see a dark cave embedded in the cliff face on the opposite side of the river, half-hidden by weeds.

On the opposite cliff face, there were also narrow paths leading left and right.

“Those bastards, just watch me go and teach them a lesson…” Patches muttered to himself as he stepped onto the suspension bridge first.

Mia could hear the moss-covered ropes of the bridge give a creak.

“Is it really safe…”

She didn’t ask this for herself, but for Wilden.

Mia could cross the bridge directly using Teleportation Magic, but Wilden could not.

“Don’t worry, even seven or eight people could walk across it!” Patches said nonchalantly.

Setting an example, he walked with large strides and reached the middle of the bridge in just a few breaths.

That was true; even for bandits, it was impossible for seven or eight of them to not even weigh as much as one Wilden.

“You go first,”

Mia said to Wilden.

The Soldier carefully stepped onto the suspension bridge.

Although this bridge was dilapidated, it hadn’t reached the point where it would collapse upon being stepped on.

In short, Wilden crossed smoothly.

Patches was already standing in front of the cave entrance.

“Hey! Come out!” Patches shouted loudly toward the cave.

Echoes drifted out from within.

However, no one answered his call.

After Wilden, Mia also used Teleportation Magic to send herself to the other side of the river.

“Don’t you even remember your Boss Patches!”

Patches was clearly a bit indignant.

“These guys… without me here to take charge, they didn’t all run away, did they?”

“Bandit friendships, as expected.”

Melina, draped in her hood, mocked coldly.

“Tch! How could that be!” Patches spat indignantly. “Could they really have all run off?”

Saying so, he prepared to walk into this cave he was so familiar with.

“Wait a moment.”

Wilden reached out a hand and stopped him.

Patches was stopped outside the cave, confused.

The Soldier frowned deeply; he drew his sword and pushed aside the grass half-covering the cave.

Wafting out from the cave along with the cold, damp air was the metallic scent of blood.